Blue Monday”, which takes its name from the English expression ‘to feel blue’, meaning to be depressed, is supposed to be the third Monday in January, the saddest day of the year.
But where does this concept come from, and is it really true?
In 2005, Cardiff University psychologist Cliff Arnall published a study in which he presented a formula for determining this particular “sad” day. According to this theory, “Blue Monday” results from the convergence of several negative factors: the start of the week, waiting for the month's paycheck, cold weather and long January nights, the post-holiday period marked by unpaid Christmas debts, and the abandonment of good resolutions.
However, this formula proved to be totally unfounded. Arnall himself admitted a few years later that he had created this theory at the request of travel agency Sky Travel, which was looking to boost sales during this slack period. The aim was to get people to book travel by making them believe that “Blue Monday” was a depressing peak, an excuse to get away from it all.
Monday and soul sickness: a reflection on suicide and the weight of days
Monday, often perceived as a brutal return to routine, carries a depressing reputation, symbolizing the end of the weekend and the weight of obligations. But is it really the day when dark emotions reach their peak, particularly in relation to suicides?
A study carried out in South Korea between 2012 and 2017 on over 1.6 million deaths, including almost 80,500 suicides, reveals that 16% of these suicides occurred on a Monday, a higher percentage than observed on Saturdays (12.4%) or Sundays (13%).
This figure might suggest that Monday is a particularly vulnerable day.
However, after adjusting the results for factors such as age and gender, it appears that this trend is not unique to suicides, but generally concerns a higher number of deaths on this day.
Why monday?
Monday marks the abrupt transition from weekend rest to the pressures of everyday life. This change of pace can increase stress and make psychological difficulties even more difficult to bear, especially for those already at risk. Monday thus becomes a symbolic day of emotional vulnerability, a time when the weight of the week ahead seems particularly heavy.
Solutions for a smoother start to the week
Although the study does not prove that Monday is specifically the riskiest day for suicides, it does highlight the need for preventive measures:
- Strengthen mental health resources from Monday onwards: intervention teams, helplines, or awareness campaigns specifically geared towards the start of the week could provide important support.
- Adapting work environments: corporate mental health programs aimed at reducing workload-related stress and fostering employee well-being could help alleviate this pressure.
A call for understanding
Monday, a symbol of recovery, can also be a time to reach out. Whether through genuine professional support or a simple gesture of caring, every action counts. Reducing the stigma surrounding depression and suicidal ideation is essential to tackling these issues in a more humane and preventative way.
Whether it's Monday or any other day, every moment is an opportunity to prevent suicide and support those who feel the weight of it. It's not just a question of talking about “Blue Monday”, but of understanding that every day offers an opportunity to provide essential support to those who need it. reinforce social skills, to reduce hypersensitivity and enable the creation of soothing relationships.
Learn more about Lactium for stress management!
Sources:
Monday peak is unique to suicide? Comparison of weekly distribution by causes of death using national representative cohort database.
Park GWV, Cho SI.
Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2023 Aug;53(4):613-627. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12968. Epub 2023 May 11.